"We are pleased to announce that Prince and Universal have reached a mutual agreement in terminating their long standing publishing deal. It is an exciting opportunity for Prince to consider fresh and new ideas for all his music."

Remember, this is for Prince's PUBLISHING contract, not a record deal.

Someone fill a music business unknowing person, like my self, in on what this means? What shackles does it release and what did they do when they had a deal? Because all i am aware of is that they distributed 3121.

Someone fill a music business unknowing person, like my self, in on what this means? What shackles does it release and what did they do when they had a deal? Because all i am aware of is that they distributed 3121.

Prince entered into a publishing deal with UMPG around 1999/2000, and later renewed it, for collection of monies due on his works.

That is separate from a contract to handle the particular release of a recording (often under a record contract, but in more recent times in Prince's case, under a marketing and distribution deal).

I read this as him and UMPG just ending their deal, and he will now (if he has not already) go and shop around for a new deal with another publishing administering company.

I didnt read it as he, and/or his staff, now administering it all themselves.

Agreed... There is no way Prince will take on the responsibility of administering his publishing royalties and licenses all by himself. Who would he get to police the internet so strictly the way UMPG did for him?

More than likely he is shopping a new publishing deal. That, or his publishing will fall into disarray--and unlikely option since it would mean a lag in Prince getting royalties for his back-catalog, something valued at 8-10million a year last time I read. That's a lot of money to miss while he searches for a new option in adminstration.

(And I wish people would stop confusing publishing deals with record deals.)

"That...magic, the start of something revolutionary-the Minneapolis Sound, we should cherish it and not punish prince for not being able to replicate it."-Dreamshaman32

Has anyone else noticed how it's always someone else who keeps Prince from doing what he wants to do? He's never in the wrong - or to blame for anything.

Surely, he entered this arrangement willingly - just as he was a willing participant in his contracts with WB - and his marriages. Yet, when things go sour, it's because the other party is "holding him back."

Prince, ever the victim.

I mean if he did have sex he would break every rule Jehova's have regarding premarital sex so Prince is really just friends with them all anyway.

Has anyone else noticed how it's always someone else who keeps Prince from doing what he wants to do? He's never in the wrong - or to blame for anything.

Surely, he entered this arrangement willingly - just as he was a willing participant in his contracts with WB - and his marriages. Yet, when things go sour, it's because the other party is "holding him back."

Prince, ever the victim.

Let's be honest and acknowledge that no one here knows the insights, if someone did something wrong, etc... It's all speculation.

Has anyone else noticed how it's always someone else who keeps Prince from doing what he wants to do? He's never in the wrong - or to blame for anything.

Surely, he entered this arrangement willingly - just as he was a willing participant in his contracts with WB - and his marriages. Yet, when things go sour, it's because the other party is "holding him back."

Prince, ever the victim.

Let's be honest and acknowledge that no one here knows the insights, if someone did something wrong, etc... It's all speculation.

I think you misunderstood what I was trying to say.

Prince always makes this big deal when his deals end, talking about his wonderful new "freedom," and how it opens all these amazing new horizons for his music. He makes it sound like it's always the other side holding him back.

And yet, nothing ever changes. He operates the way he always has: there are no re-masters and the vault stays closed.

I mean if he did have sex he would break every rule Jehova's have regarding premarital sex so Prince is really just friends with them all anyway.

Has anyone else noticed how it's always someone else who keeps Prince from doing what he wants to do? He's never in the wrong - or to blame for anything.

Surely, he entered this arrangement willingly ...Yet, when things go sour, it's because the other party is "holding him back."

Prince, ever the victim.

Rebecca where are you getting this? The announcement from his manager makes no mention of things turning sour or UMPG keeping him from what he wants to do, or holding him back.

As Gav has reported it's just a simple 2 liner.

To all the other's fretting about the free agent stuff that is jseven's interspersed wording (and no disrespect to him, he was privileged enough to be able to ask Prince direct.), relating to Prince's record deal status.